Concept: “Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes as Identity via Wearable Art and Visual Data”
(i.e. Visual Data via Type 1 Diabetic’s Medtronic 670g Insulin Pump):
Positionality: White, Cisgender Female, Greek/Irish/Italian American, Artist-Teacher, former Fashion Designer, raised on Long Island, NY– now Bostonian, living with several chronic conditions including Type 1 Diabetes.
Artist References:
Nettrice Baskins: Art & Algorithms
(“Respite” by Nettrice Gaskins, 2020)
Steve Locke: “Three Deliberate Grays for Freddie (A Memorial for Freddie Gray)”
(“Three Deliberate Grays for Freddie (A Memorial for Freddie Gray)” by Steve Locke, 2018)
Artist Statement:
Who? Anyone interested in learning more about the Diabetic condition, as well as the Diabetic Community; Diabetic Community; Doctors; Nurses
What? Diabetic blood glucose/insulin bolus trends in relation to representing the data that it is technically representing
Where? This concept is meant to connect the Diabetic community across the Boston are (and in the long term, hopefully the United States!)
When? As soon as possible!
Why? Diabetic people partake in the 24 hour regulation, maintenance, and documentation of glucose readings before (but not limited to) every time they eat, insulin doses via manual injections or insulin pump delivery, as well as the dichotomy of physical activity, hormones, stress, and diet. Diabetes has many misconceptions– between the “good” and the “bad kind”, or solely occurring due to poor diet, when in fact both Type 1 (insulin dependent) and Type 2 are both genetically pre-dispositioned.
Diabetics take on an invisible struggle which weighs heavily on their subconscious– “are these numbers a TRUE reflection of my identity as a person? or just my condition?” In my opinion, this commonly unrecognized resilience, and will for daily survival should be something to be outwardly proud of, admired by, and celebrated.
How? I would reach out to fellow Diabetic peers via social media groups to collect downloaded CGM (constant glucose monitor) or insulin pump data graphs. From this Data acquired, I would use a digital visualizing program, such as Magic, Dream, or the Visualizer, as per the work of Nettrice Gaskins.
These visual data artworks would be translated to the wearable garment as a vehicle for expressive identity. Each graphic tee shirt would be unique to the Diabetic individual who participated– showing an abstract and colorful visualization graphic of their glucose and insulin trends.
To pay homage to each Diabetic individuals’ Diabetic journey, the “care instructions” will be silk screened on the inside neckline of the tee– however instead of reading the care instructions for washing and caring for the garment itself, it will tailor to the mental nurturing and care of the individual’s mental health, or “Diabetic burnout.”
Works Cited:
Nice work plan, Melissa! I could see this evolving to include other garments.